Abstract
Thirty six-patients with inoperable cancers of the oesophagus or gastric tumour in
the cardia were treated by endoscopic alcohol injection. After dilatation using Savary
dilators, absolute alcohol was injected in 0.5 - 1 ml aliquots into protuberant parts
using a sclerotherapy needle. The mean volume per session was 7.8 ml. The mean dysphagia
score improved from 2.7 before treatment to 1.4 after treatment (p < 0.001). Complications
included mediastinitis in one patient and tracheo-oesophageal fistulas in two patients.
The mean duration of palliation before the development of recurrent dysphagia was
35 days. The mean survival was 82 days. Endoscopic alcohol injection is effective
in relieving malignant dysphagia. This inexpensive and easily available technique
merits comparative studies with more established forms of therapy, such as laser photocoagulation.
